Fears for growth
UP TO 800 homes could be built in Southwell over the next 17 years, according to a consultation document outlining potential development.
Around 100 people attended a meeting at The Minster School about Newark and Sherwood District Council’s plan.
Mr Peter Harris, a town and district councillor, urged people to make their views known.
He said the Core Strategy Options Report was a vital document for the town.
It sets out policies for planning and managing future housing and employment land to 2026.
The district council’s preferred option is for Southwell to be a service centre, which means the town would be a secondary focus for growth in the district behind Newark, Balderton and Fernwood.
Mr Harris said there were just under 3,000 homes in Southwell.
He said up to 800 homes could be built, depending on which of the four proposed growth scenarios was chosen.
A town councillor, Mr Peter Pay, said his preferred scenario was regeneration.
That would mean 55% of new housing in Newark, Balderton and Fernwood, and 45% distributed among Blidworth, Bilsthorpe, Clipstone, Ollerton and Boughton and Rainworth.
A resident said: “My main concern is the number of vehicles and children generated by hundreds of houses and the impact it would have on traffic, doctors, dentists and schools.
“It has the potential to cause great problems for the community.”
The need for some new homes, and houses with fewer bedrooms but bigger living spaces was identified at the meeting.
The importance of Nottingham Trent University’s Brackenhurst campus was highlighted for its potential in generating new business.
The district council questionnaire asked about the setting of Southwell.
A resident said if it was York or Lincoln they would not even be talking about if views of the minster should be protected.
The core strategy options report and comments form is on the district council website.
The town council’s response will be based on comments from the meeting and the results of questionnaires on its website.
